What condition leads to a loss of vision in the central part of the visual field?

Macular degeneration is characterized by a deterioration of the macula, which is the central part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. This condition particularly impacts tasks that require detailed vision, such as reading and recognizing faces, since it affects the central visual field. As the macula degrades, individuals may experience blurriness, dark spots, or a gradual loss of central vision while peripheral vision typically remains intact.

In contrast, conditions like cataracts primarily cause cloudiness in the lens of the eye, which can lead to overall visual impairment rather than a specific loss in the central field. Glaucoma generally results in peripheral vision loss due to increased intraocular pressure and optic nerve damage. Retinal detachment can lead to various types of vision loss, but it does not specifically target the central visual field in the way that macular degeneration does. Therefore, the condition that distinctly leads to a loss of vision in the central part of the visual field is indeed macular degeneration.